Again

After the memories of Mizuki faded, the hand holding the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe paused for a moment. Then he ordered in a low voice, "Keep a close watch on Mizuki and Naruto's movements. Don't take action for now. If Naruto really does go to steal the Scroll of Seals... pretend you didn't see him."

Though the Anbu member was confused, he didn't ask any questions. "Understood," he replied quietly.

His figure flickered, and he vanished from the spot.

After the Anbu member left, Hiruzen turned his gaze to the crystal ball.

In the image, Mizuki was still walking around and working at the Ninja Academy, wearing his usual, overly friendly, fake smile.

Hiruzen furrowed his brow slightly, but in the end said nothing.

For now, Mizuki was clearly waiting to see how things turned out with Naruto. The real focus was still on Naruto.

Meanwhile, Naruto found Sasuke at the training ground, relying on his own experience.

The aloof young boy was repeatedly practicing Shuriken Throwing at a wooden post. Each throw carried a surge of pent-up frustration.

Naruto walked over slowly and greeted him. "Hey, Sasuke."

Sasuke stopped and turned around.

When he saw Naruto, a complicated look flashed through his eyes, but it was quickly overtaken by an intense yearning.

"You finally came."

Sasuke put away his shuriken. He tried to sound calm, but couldn't hide his eagerness.

"Yeah, I came to keep my promise from last night." Naruto spoke casually. "I'll tell you how to improve your Taijutsu and shuriken skills. As for how I 'figured things out'... you wouldn't be able to copy that even if I told you. But I can make you stronger in a short time. Want to learn?"

With what Naruto knew and the combat experience he'd accumulated, perhaps there was no one in the entire Shinobi World who could match him.

Teaching Sasuke would be a piece of cake.

Through countless cycles, Itachi had been Naruto's enemy and opponent.

Though in the first few cycles, Itachi had arrogantly declared, "Every technique has a weakness,"

Naruto had still defeated him. And as the cycles accumulated, Itachi's weaknesses gradually became apparent. Telling Sasuke about them could spare him many detours.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly.

The memory of yesterday's defeat was still vivid, but Naruto had also failed the Clone Technique that morning and hadn't graduated.

Someone who couldn't even master the Clone Technique was going to teach him?

Absurd.

Yet the unusual composure Naruto carried didn't seem like an act.

In the end, his yearning to grow stronger overcame everything else.

"Fine," Sasuke replied, then lifted his eyes, his gaze resolute. "But I have one condition."

"Name it."

"We fight again. This time, we both go all out. I want to see just how big the gap between us really is."

Sasuke's voice grew low.

The fight at school had only been a sparring match. He'd underestimated Naruto at the start, which threw off his rhythm, and he hadn't even used his best Fire Style technique.

This time, Sasuke thought, he absolutely wouldn't hold back. He'd give it everything he had.

A subtle expression crossed Naruto's face.

All out?

He was probably about to shatter what little pride Sasuke had left.

But Naruto said nothing more and simply nodded. "All right."

The two moved apart and faced each other.

A heavy silence hung in the air.

"Begin!"

Sasuke barked the word and attacked first.

Several kunai whistled through the air, coming in at tricky angles.

"Clang! Clang!"

Naruto didn't even move his feet. A slight flick of his wrist was enough to knock every one of them away with his kunai.

Sasuke wasn't surprised. He surged forward at once, attacking Naruto with fists and feet like a rushing gale.

He'd reviewed every move from yesterday's sparring match the night before. This time, he was sure he could seize the initiative.

Unfortunately, every "change in tactics" Sasuke thought up still seemed childishly slow to Naruto.

The gap between their abilities was like a chasm.

Not wanting to discourage him too much, Naruto deliberately let a few attacks through, pretending to be on the defensive as he gave ground.

Seeing this, Sasuke's eyes flashed. So it's working. He quickly formed Hand Seals.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

A scorching fireball shot toward Naruto, bathing his face in red light.

Naruto simply watched, calm and composed. Only when the fireball was almost upon him did his figure suddenly flicker, letting him dodge it with ease by a few dozen centimeters.

As the flames roared in front of him, Sasuke's lips curled into a smug smile. But then, from the corner of his eye, he saw Naruto charge in from the side like a flash, fist aimed straight at his chest.

Sasuke hurriedly raised both hands to block, only to realize it was a feint!

Naruto's real attack targeted his legs. A clean sweep sent Sasuke crashing to the ground.

This time, Naruto gave Sasuke no chance to catch his breath.

Sasuke had barely leaped up to counterattack when faster, more precise moves completely overwhelmed him.

Every attack was anticipated. Every block was broken through by greater force.

After just a few exchanges, Sasuke was knocked down again. Bruises covered his body, and he was breathing hard, unable to get back up for a moment.

Naruto stood where he was, looking down at Sasuke with a calm, unreadable expression.

He'd been through this scene too many times. He'd long since stopped reacting to it.

Naruto spoke coolly. "Your Hand Seals are too slow, your attacks are sluggish, your footwork is sloppy, and your reactions are dull. Not a single move looks right! With skills like yours, how do you expect to achieve the strength you want so badly?"

Sasuke clenched his teeth and struggled to get up, but the movement pulled at his injuries. He groaned and couldn't move.

Naruto sighed, walked over, and crouched beside him. A soft green glow lit his palm as he gently pressed it against Sasuke's injuries.

The green light of the Mystical Palm Technique flowed slowly into Sasuke's body, and his injuries healed at a visible pace.

Sasuke felt his body recovering. Unable to hide his surprise, he looked at Naruto as though he were seeing him for the first time.

"That's enough for today." Naruto stopped using the Mystical Palm Technique and stood, glancing at the sky. "We'll have plenty of time together."

"Plenty of time?"

Confused, Sasuke got to his feet as well. "I'm already a Genin, and you..."

He didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.

You couldn't even graduate. How could there be plenty of time?

Naruto smiled at that, a note of certainty in his smile that Sasuke couldn't understand. "Don't worry. I won't just graduate—I'll be assigned to the same team as you. So there'll be plenty of time for me to 'guide' you."

With that, Naruto turned and waved goodbye, leaving Sasuke standing there, stunned and turning those unbelievable words over in his mind.

Naruto hadn't even passed the graduation exam. How could he possibly graduate?

Several pairs of eyes had secretly watched their sparring match.

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has improved so quickly. He's actually surpassed Uchiha Sasuke, and he even knows the Mystical Palm Technique... I need to report this to Lord Danzo at once."

The Root shinobi murmured, then vanished from the spot.

The most shocked of all were the Anbu directly under the Third Hokage, who had watched Naruto grow up under their surveillance.

They'd seen plenty of geniuses, but someone who'd gotten stronger so suddenly, like Naruto, was probably rare even across all of history.

But the most astonished of all was the Third Hokage, who had watched the entire thing through his crystal ball.

"Is that Naruto?!"